Obituary of Joyce Elaine Johnson

Joyce Elaine (Gustafson) Johnson, 83, of Owego, NY went to be with her Lord on March 21, 2021 after a long battle with Alzheimer's disease. She was born October 26, 1937 in Jamestown, NY, to John and Verna (Kesby) Gustafson. Jamestown is where Joyce met her loving husband, Stu Johnson, whom she married in 1959. Their last move was to Owego in 1966 where they settled in and raised their family. Joyce was a National Honor Society graduate from Jamestown High School and received her Nursing degree from Swedish Covenant Hospital in Chicago, Illinois. Her nursing classmates nicknamed her "Gusto" not just as a shortened version of her name but also as a description of her essence of life. Joyce also worked as a sales associate at the Bon-Ton for 24 years before retiring in 2012. Joyce was a person with many loves, first and foremost her love for family and for her Lord Jesus Christ whom she served as a member of Lakeview Chapel in Owego as well as a volunteer with Child Evangelism Fellowship. She was instrumental in starting many Neighborhood Bible Studies in the Owego area and organized and led a city-wide conference featuring the founders of the Neighborhood Bible Study movement. An avid lover of reading and books, Joyce was instrumental in starting the Lakeview Chapel Library and served as its librarian for many years. Joyce loved to dance and for many decades enjoyed Contra dancing, English Country dancing and International dancing. She rarely missed any of the large Saratoga Dance Flurry Festivals. Joyce loved nature and the outdoors and actively enjoyed hiking, biking, sailing, cross country skiing and camping, always with a nice bonfire at night. That added to her love to take pictures of flowers, birds, trees, animals, and the many places she traveled. You could see her passion for life in every photograph. Joyce loved to sing and contributed her beautiful voice to many choirs, from the award-winning Jamestown High School A Cappella Choir, and the Jamestown First Covenant Church Choir, to the Owego and Candor Community Choirs. For 13 years she also sang regularly in the Lakeview Chapel Choir. Joyce's winning smile, infectious laugh and exuberant spirit made it a joy to be in her presence. She especially loved close, deep relationships with special friends. All our love and peaceful wishes to a beautiful spirit with her unique blend of sass, creative ambition, and boundless love of living life. You are lost to us in body but forever in our hearts and memories, always giving us a smile. We love you Joyce, be at peace. Joyce is survived by her husband Stuart Johnson; children Julie Johnson and Joel (Morgan) Johnson; grandchildren Danny (Brittany), AJ, Alexandra, Joel Jr., Andrew, Justin as well as three great grandchildren, Aubrey, Jaydin, Sofia; sister-in-law Sally Gustafson and nieces Lisa, Amy, and nephew Jeffrey. She is preceded in death by her parents, John and Verna (Kesby) Gustafson and brother Bruce Gustafson. Following services in Owego this weekend, friends will be received for a walk-through visitation from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Monday, March 29 in the Lind Funeral Home. A private family service will be held at 11:30 a.m. Monday, led by David B. Larson. Burial will be in Lake View Cemetery.